Word of Jacob joining Samsung's legal team broke when the company submitted a document in the US naming him as an employee, Foss Patents reports.

The ex-judge's appointment may cause a stir given his past affiliation, but patent expert and legal consultant Florian Mueller does not believe his new role at Samsung violates any laws.

"I'm sure that Samsung and Sir Robin Jacob wouldn't be doing this if there was any risk of this conduct violating the law," he wrote on his blog.

"Apparently an ex-judge who is invited to rule on a case involving a given party is not barred by existing UK rules (though this case here may spark a debate whether some reform is needed) from being hired by the same party in another litigation outside the UK."

Samsung remains locked in patent disputes with Apple across numerous territories, and recently attempted to ban iPhone and iPad devices in Japan without success.